In many places, Koheles speaks of work having no value. But this is work “under the sun.” There is no value to work under the sun but there is great value to work that is not conducted in an “under the sun” mode. Work is how we move forward in life, and it is valuable when engaged in both the physical and spiritual worlds, so long as we can see past the confines of physicality. Koheles tries an approach to life that only deals with wisdom (chochmah), not with physicality, but finds that this too is hevel. Man’s role is to engage and to work. He is to be an eved Hashem, a servant of Hashem. The fear of Heaven is expressed as being a servant of Hashem, while the love of Hashem is expressed as being a child of Hashem. A servant does what his master wishes at all times. If his master directs the eved in one direction and then in another, the eved must follow and comply with his master’s wishes.
Similarly, our role is at any given moment to be an eved Hashem, to think about what Hashem wants of us at this time. And if a different behavior is needed at another time, the eved changes what he is doing to comply with the Master’s wishes.
Adam’s name derives from adamah, the ground. But why? If it is because Adam came from the earth, so did all the animals and plants. Maharal suggests a different relationship. Adamah, earth, has no intrinsic value in and of itself, but it has infinite potential to bring things forth. Similarly, a person has infinite potential and has to work to actualize it. The will of Hashem is for man to harvest all aspects of the world, as included in Hashem’s command to Adam (v’kivshu’ha).
Koheles says that Hashem put everything, all possible middos and talents, in man, and he must be able to use these as they are needed. As mentioned above, he has to think at any given time about what being a servant of Hashem requires of him, and he has to be able to shift gears and use other talents if this is what is required to best serve Hashem. This also corresponds to Rav Dessler’s approach to the statement “Hakol biydai shamayim chutz miyir’as shamayim” – “Everything is under Heaven’s control except for fear of Heaven.” A person’s parents, place and era of birth, and other circumstances are determined by Hashem. What remains is for the person to choose what he will do in his circumstances. That is yir’as shamayim, the commitment to approach life and make decisions as a servant of Hashem.
In some respects this concept of operating as an eved Hashem is liberating. One does not have to guarantee an outcome, but rather just (!) commit oneself fully to serving Hashem. Flexibility is only possible for someone who feels all he does is as a servant to Hashem’s Will. Our freedom is engraved in the tablets of the Ten Commandments (Pirkei Avos).
Koheles says “adam l’amal yulad” – “man is born to work.” On the surface this sounds like a dreary existence. But there is another interpretation. Man creates himself – is born – through work. Man’s work allows him to bring his infinite potential into reality, to become the complete person, Kol haAdam. Rav Eisemann notes the wording with which the earth is cursed after the sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge. “Arura ha’adamah ba’avurecha” – “The earth is cursed for your benefit” (instead of biglalecha, because of what you did). A person needs to work in order to develop himself in this existence outside the Garden of Eden.